NEW YORK—A traveler can show us how to appreciate our native backyard more than we might have otherwise. Thomas Cole (1801–1848) was such a man. Born in Lancashire, England, where he witnessed the Ind ...

For decades the artists of Montmartre have dazzled sightseers with their rapidly delivered portraits, paintings of Parisian scenes, and cartoonish caricatures. But now the painters are threatening to ...

NEW YORK—“Many people have some knowledge of Delacroix the painter; far fewer know Delacroix the draftsman,” Ashley E. Dunn said, introducing the exhibition that she organized, “Devotion to Drawing: T ...

NEW YORK—Carlos Madrid’s insatiable curiosity leads him to explore the beauty of nature and life. He’s been on a long journey of expressing the gifts life has offered him, and the mysteries that have ...

Trees were once considered sacred and awe-inspiring: Oaks were worshiped by the European Druids, redwoods were a part of American Indian ritual, and baobabs a part of African tribal life. Ancient Chin ...

How can we maintain our independence, autonomy, and abilities as we age? In his book “The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind,” psychiatrist and certified master psycho ...

Fairies, the magical creatures that shimmer in the forest, were for many years believed to be hidden in the woodland landscapes of Monhegan Island, Maine. The locals there made small houses especially ...

William Watson called April in his poem the month of “golden laughter.” With that in mind, here are some lighthearted books that children can enjoy this April and beyond. Joke Books ‘Knock Knock Who’ ...

One of the most unlikely poems of the modernist period is that by Robert Frost: “The Pasture.” It is unlikely for many reasons. First, it seems more like a Romantic lyric (that is, 100 years too late) ...

There was a rich man in Changzhou County of what was at that time called Suzhou Province. His name was Long Heng. He was born with a very kind heart and always gave of himself to other people. Long He ...

Commentary When Jon McNaughton unveiled his new painting “Crossing the Swamp” on July 31, he probably wasn’t expecting to get as much attention as he did, including over 14,000 Twitter comments, 20,00 ...

Poetry can be so elaborate and so profound. Yet in the following poem by J. J. Bitters, a little girl tears us up with a simple yet very sincere verse. Enjoy! Published with the permission of The Soci ...

“Somewhere in La Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember…” This line, arguably the most famous in the history of Spanish literature, is the opening of The Ingenious Nobleman Don Quixot ...

When Ken Ludwig’s daughter was just 6 years old, he, as with most dads, wanted to get to know her and share one of his own loves. As a two-time Olivier Award-winning playwright, Ludwig’s love just hap ...

Motherhood is getting considerable attention, even if much of the news is concerning. Fertility rates are falling in America as millennials decide not to have children. This should hardly come as a su ...

Friends of Falun Gong concluded its third annual poetry contest, which attracted over 150 participants from around the globe. The contest was co-hosted by the Society of Classical Poets, an online jou ...

LONDON—Award-winning writer Lionel Shriver has been sacked from a competition panel after describing a publishing giant as “drunk on virtue” in an article challenging the supremacy of diversity over t ...

TORONTO—The University of Toronto says it now owns the oldest English-language book in Canada, a 15th century text that introduced ancient ideas to new audiences. The book is an English translation of ...

Today we fully expect film, television, and theater to use music to shape meaning. The screeching violins of “Psycho” and the menacing “Jaws” theme, for instance, both depend on a shared 20th-century ...

In these tense times, one safe way to unwind is to listen to the soothing sounds of chamber music and Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was one of the masters of the form. In his short life, he accomplish ...

It’s never too late to pick up a musical instrument. In fact, there are many reasons why it’s a great idea, particularly in old age. We normally hear about reasons to increase music education for chil ...

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet air, that give delight and hurt not Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices.— from Shakesp ...

NEW YORK—In 1999, President Bill Clinton bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal on the Little Rock Nine. Who were they and what did they achieve? The answer is dramatized at the Sheen Center. Written a ...

The fall 2018 season at the Metropolitan Opera brings both familiar and lesser known works, performed by world-class artists. ‘Samson et Dalila’ The season begins with the first new Met production in ...

PRAGUE—According to critics, Czech ballerina Tereza Podarilova shone as Tatiana in “Onegin,” and as Katherine in “The Taming of the Shrew,” created by the world-famous choreographer John Cranko. She w ...

Richard J. Miller, president of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, has dubbed soprano Anna Netrebko an “authentic 21st century superstar.” Few would disagree with that assessment or the choice of Netrebko ...

Francesco Gasparini (1661–1727) is not a household name—yet—though we are already discovering what a big influence he had on later composers, namely Handel. On the disc “The Gasparini Album: Opera Ari ...

NEW YORK—After being introduced to this dysfunctional family, one wonders if there will ever be peace for Mary Frances, the family matriarch, who lies slowly dying of a respiratory disease. Her careta ...

NEW YORK—Coming off of the drama of the NBA Finals and the fresh picks of its annual draft, one ponders Shakespeare’s oft-quoted phrase “such stuff as dreams are made on.” Whether in sports or music, ...

NEW YORK—Imagine your most memorable moments captured in a painting. The scene could be of time spent at leisure, without a goal in sight, talking with friends outdoors in mild weather. The conversati ...

The Fremont Festival of the Arts was held August 4–5 and featured various artisan booths and entertainment for people to enjoy. One of the booths present at the festival was the Shen Yun Performing Ar ...

“I am very surprised to see a classical dance different from the one I have been doing for a long time [40 years].” “On a technical level, I am very impressed by the quality of the steps and their fin ...

Scott Krawczyk, dean of Conolly College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at LIU Brooklyn was blown away by the classical Chinese dance and music of Shen Yun. “The music is very moving. I loved the combina ...